AI Summary:
- Utah is poised to ban fluoride in public water systems, pending the governor’s signature.
- The bill prohibits adding fluoride to public water and repeals previous related laws.
- Federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized fluoride, influencing the bill.
- Studies on fluoride’s impact on children’s IQ have mixed results, with some showing negative effects and others showing no harm.
- Major public health groups support fluoridation for dental health benefits.
- The anti-fluoridation movement has gained popularity post-Covid-19.
- Similar legislation is proposed in Florida, emphasizing the importance of consent in public health measures.
Uh, here in Oregon it’s already been banned for a long time. This headline is sus.
The difference is in verbiage. Oregon doesn’t require it, but Oregon also doesn’t ban it and leaves it up to municipalities. Utah is trying to actively force municipalities to not be allowed to use it.
Ah makes sense.
It isn’t banned in Oregon. Many communities have simply decided not to do it. Hillsboro recently voted to stop fluoridating their water, for example.
This would be the first time an entire state has literally banned the practice.
And it’s stupid. There are maps of the US that show which states have the lowest/highest rates of dental caries. The states with the lowest rates just happen to have mandatory water fluoridation, and the states with the lowest rates of fluoridation all have the worst dental health. Meanwhile there’s zero evidence that drinking fluoridated water has negative health effects.
Wanna add that Columbia County has fluorinated and chlorinated water.
Ah gotcha. And yeah I agree it’s dumb to not fluoridate our water but toothpaste companies need to be able to upcharge on extra fluoride toothpaste and dentists need work right? /s